The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-29
WILLIAM r. TRAvERs.
The Witty Bear of Wall Street Dies in
Bermuda.
A Fortune of Millions and the Repu-
tation of a Wit Left Behind.
Many LaughabIe Anecdotes and
Sayings Recalled.

Many LaughabIe Anecdotes and
Sayings Recalled.
New YORK. March 2S.-The Bermuda line
steamship Orinoco, Capt Garvin, arrived
yesterday, at the foot of West Tenth street.
having on board the body of William Riggin
Trayers, whose witty sayings made him ia
nous far outside the limits of New York
This was unexpected and sad news to Mr.
Travers' many friends in this city. A report
had been spread last week, in the clubs of
which Mr.. Travers was member. that he
was slightly better, and that he was to re-
turn to New York yesterday, and make his
nome temporarily at the Murray Hill Hotel.
There is scarcely man in New York who
qua not know Mr.. Travers by reputation, and
ms personal acquaintance with business men
was notably extensive. And yet few people
really knew him, and he was greatly misun-
uerstood and underes timated. The majority
OF men would, and usually did pronounce
MIN an eager speculator, a jolly liver. a man
Of tne world in the broadest sense. His
Jokes and witticisms, reproduced in the
newspapers, made his name familiar to
thousands, who had no other knowledge of
out OF these materials He was talked of
from one end of the town to the other. and
from city to city, until everybody Thought at
least, that he knew the man-the name being
often associated with levity, good fellowship
and reckless audacity.
:. But, In all this, says today's Sun, the pub
lie sadly misjudged or misunderstood the
man. He was never wild speculator in any
sense, though for many years a conspicuous
ngure IN wall street, and at times one of its
largest operators. On the contrary. he was
ansi always careful, prudent, intelligent bust
ness man, conducting his operations with
the strictest regard to well-established COM
mercial principles, and being governed by
the incest sense of honor in all his transac-
tions. M '-'' 'i"n'"0-
MI. Mr, Iravers ,S,n was born in Baltimore, Md,
august. 1919: In 1888 he graduated from
Columbia College. His father gave him
farm near Perth Amboy. AT that time tba
SILK worm craze was at its height, and yonns
! IraVers covered his farm with mulberry.
trees, ana proposed making fortune out Of
ment satisfied him, and he quit it a loser.
His next movement was to Baltimore.
Wnere ne formed partnership with Wilmot
> J.ohnson, under the firm name of johnson q
lrasvers. The business was wholesale gro
ceres, cst, WIN a general produce commission
attachment. The firm did not prosper, and
aiter desperate struggle of few years its
career terminated in a disastrous failure in
1853 leaving Travers, then but young man.
s;aaly involved In debt. Nor was his father
Inen IN able to render him further assistance.
sources.
During his short residence in Baltimore.
MI. Iravers had formed an acquaintance
with Miss Louisa johnson, daughter of the
eminent lawyer and statesman, Reverdy
SS1sh,nsoh, ana, undaunted by his business
failure, pressed his suit for her hand. 1t
was case of mutual affection, and Mr..
Johnson consented to the match
. Mr.. Irayers took his bride to Paterson at
nrst. 10 time he formed a partnership with
EDWARD ID. Miller, and entered Wall street
~ - proKer. lie became a member of the
Stock Exchange on July 26 1854 The firm
lid good business, and made money from
Ine start, but for some reason was continued
only couple of years. In the mean time
however, Mr.. Travers brought his family to
this city, which has ever since been their
nome. During the continuance of this firm,
also, Mr., Travers was enabled from his
snare OF the profits to pay off the debts of
the unfortunate Baltimore enterprise. salts
lying |! not merely his own share, but that of
MS partner as well, with scrupulous insist
ence paying hundred cents on every dollar
with accurued interest.
=, throughout his career in Wall street Mr.
lrayers has been known as bear With
rare exceptions he has operated for a de-
cline in prices. One of his intimates once
chided him for his persistency in that line.
pointing to the greater success other noted
individuals had met with by bulling the
market. Travers replied: "They are g-good
fellows, and I'm, !g-glad they'vei m-made !
money; ~ ihey couldn't have m-made any if
thered b-been no b-bears to skin. I've had
wanted to-
This anecdote illustrates trait in the
mans character. He was never enyious or
Jealous OF the snccess of others. indeed, it
Cppmp6 m -
Thing by which another operator has made a
5oQdtturn.
Mr.. Trayers confined himself very largely
20 legitimate brokerage business, only on
are occasions operating on his own account,
,hough when he did so his TRANSACTIONS were
unusually large, and conducted with great
'hrewdness and sagacity. But such was his
'eputati0n in the street that he never lacked
customers, md his commissions aggregated |
very large annual income. Nor was he lin |
silnea aea 70 2, NJ! humor others in speculations.
'dylce with humor, whenever his sound |
Judgment so admonished he would advise |
me customer not to operate. Thus one day |
wen known gentleman came to him and |
'ald Irayers, you are bear, and always |
Dredicting fall In the market If y0u
should say any stock was going up there
would be almost a certainty that it would |
ADVANCE. Now, l have just morteaged NV
lonSe, .sds an, and o have got the modey here. What
,ildll Duy
"B-buy the m-mortgage.o was the ra-
,ponse.
1t is related of Mr.. Travers that in all his
,areer in the street he never pressed an nm
fortunate debt. On the contrary. he was |
always among the first to sign off his claims |
,galn1st any VINO had failed, generously Civ
ng them an opportunity to resume business |
md recover their losses. In this way he has |
igned off hundreds of thousands OF dollars |
II just claims. some of which, however |
we're honorably paid when the debtor again |
,ot on his feet But this was not always |
wing Travers $4,000. His transactions
lad been crooked, and his failure was gen |
rally reported to be swindle. The next |
lay Travers firmly avowed that he would |
lever sign off that debt, and forbade those |
n his employ from doing so: A year later
vas believed to be making money Mr.. |
lraver's manager went to the bookkeeper |
md demanded the mans account. The |
'ookkeeper replied that 1t had been signed |
III by Mr.. Travers. The manager went i'm
nediately to Mr.. Travers about II. and ey-
llbited no little feeling against the debtor.
Iravers replied:
John, I'd b-be ashamed to k-keep m-mad
1t m-man whole year,
r Every Every one ot who knew Mr.. .Travers has
iravers story TO tell. One of the best of his |
recorded sayings is his well-known reply to |
/ Baltimore friend who met him i'm this citv
md upbraided him for stammering worse |
han he did when he lived in the Monu- |
mental City. The reply came INSTANTLY. |
Have to. B-b-bigger place."
An often-told story describes Mr.. Trayers |
is going to Brooklyn by the Wall street |
erry to pay long deferred visit to a friend |
Who lived in Montague street. He missed |
lis way. and meeting respectable looking |
nan, said:
Ocean you d-d-direct me to M-M-Mon-
ague street?" Il
"S-s-straight ON to the l-l-left SIR" 81
"Wh-wh-hat do you mean by m-m-ocking |
ne, sir?"
"B-beg p-p-pardon, I've an impeachment
n my speech"
that's what l used to have" said
Irayers. "Wh-wh-hy don't you g-g-go to |
Dr.. Blank. He c-c-c-cured mel'
A well known broker, who is extremely |
,ald and extremely fond of telling from what |
! small beginning his present fortune
prung. was frequently chaffed by Mr. |
rrayers. "You s-s-Say you're a s-s-self- |
made m-man," said he once.
"Yes, Mr.. Travers, am
Then wh-wh-why the d-d-dickens didn't |
'ou p-p-put more hair on?"
When the famous Vanderbilt fancy dress |
Dall was occupying the attention of all New |
ork there was much discussion in Wall |
treet as to appropriate costumes and so |
orth; The bald-headed broker mentioned |
LSkeu lraVprs IN piva him IN idao for - L